Artificial hand



Jan. 6, 1942. w. A. MCELROY ARTIFICIAL HAND Filed Dec. 29, 1339 Wm. flMEZra? Strum;

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 I UNITED STATES A ENT OFFlCE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an artificial hand, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind embodying two relatively movable finger members so formed and assembled to provide means whereby objects of a very. small; size up to a comparatively large size may be effectively held between the finger members and whereby it is also possible to effectively clamp a. tool handle or the like between the finger members. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial hand of this kind comprising relatively movable finger members constantly urged one toward the other, together with means co acting with one of the finger members for moving l the same away from the other finger member; I

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kind comprising a supporting member and an article clamping structure associated therewith, said supporting member and article clamping structure being so constructed and arranged to provide means whereby the clamping structure may be rotatably adjusted and effectively maintained in desired. selective adjustment and also to allow ready application or removal of the clamping structure with respect to the supporting member.

The invention consists in the details oi construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved artificial hand whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered s im pler, less expensive and otherwise more on venient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. V V

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. I II I r In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the ing, wherein: I I I Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of an artificial handconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly'in section of the appliance as illustrated in Figure 1, a portion of the section being on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line '4- -4 of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, my improved artificial handcomprises two units, one .5

samewith reference to the accompanyingdrawq sumun themsupporting member sand the th r t c am in s r ei il sup tin member s, as herein embodied, comprises a plate {tightly fittingfwithin an endportion of a collar 5 2'. .The collarf2 has extending therefrom the.

elongated arms} whereby the member S may be effectively engaged with a conventional leather glovefor" the forearm. I v

@The plate I: at its aX'i al center is provided with anopening 4 which is defined by the inwardly disposed sleeve 5, the wall of which is of considerable thickness.- This sleeve 5lterminates at about the longitudinal centerof the collar '2 and the outer or free endedgethereof isformed to 5 providetherearound .a series of substantially equidistantly spaced recesses 6. The sleeve 5 is provided, in its inner wall with a key slot or groove *1. I This slot or groove 1 is in parallelism with the axial center of the opening 4 and is open at both ends and is continued out through the P a v l, r

The ear end of the collar 2 is closed by a plate 8 snugly fitting therein but free thereof. This plate} inits peripheral portion is provided with a series of openings S dfined bythe sleeves ID ofdesired length anddisposed toward the plate I tolimit the movement of the plate 8 toward the plate l These. openings 9 and sleeves III are preierably three in number and equidistantly spacedaround the plate 8. V I I reely insertable from below through the open ings S and the sleeves I0 are the headed members or shanks I [having their free end, portions threadingwithin the-plate I The headsa of the members I I are of a diameter lessthan that of the openings 9 so thatthe plate 8 may have limitedmovement away from the plate I. Each of the sleeves I 0 is provided with an internal shoulder Ii and interposed between this shoulder l and the ea w; of the shank ll direct-ed throughsaid sleeve isan expansible member l4,

hereindisclosed as a coil spring surrounding the shank ll. This-spring serves to constantly-urge the plate -B'toward the plate I or more particularly the sleeve5. I I j I I H7 The clampingstructure C, as herein disclosed, comprises a shaft 1 5.which is snugly insertable throughthe opening 4 of the plate I and the associatedsleevei} The inserted extremity of the shaft I5: has extendinglaterally therefrom a lug it. which will; readily pass through the key slot or groove [thus permitting the clamping-structure Cto be readily applied to or removed from n pporting member s. The shaft15 isof a length; to allow the lug l6 tobe extended beyond the free end of the sleeve but in order to allow the lug I6 to be so positioned, it is necessary to force the plate 8 away from the sleeve 5. After this movement of the plate 8 the structure C may be rotated about the shaft I5 as an axis to bring the clamping structure C in desired selective adjustment with respect to the supporting member S. When brought to the desired adjustment and upon release of pressure upon the clamping structure C, the plate 8 under the action of the springs I4 will contact the inserted end of th shaft I5 and force the lug I6 into one of the recesses 6 whereby the clamping structure C is effectively held against rotary movement with respect to the supporting member S.

The outer end of the shaft I5 is continued by an elongated hook member M, the inner portion ll of which having flattened side faces and disposed on a predetermined outward curvature. This portion Il may be termed a curved terminus for the hook member M. This curved portion or terminus I1 is slotted between the flattened side faces thereof and extending within said slot I8 is the curved terminus or portion I9 of a second or companion hook member H. This portion or terminus I9 also has flattened side faces and has its inner or lower end portion provided with a laterally disposed lug 2|] which is pivotally connected to the adjacent extremity of the portion or terminus I! by a bolt 2| or the like.

The curved terminus or portion I9 is so formed as to have an outer edge face 1) extending beyond the outer edge face of the curved terminus or portion ll of the hook member M to provide an extended cam. The bolt 2I hereinbefore referred to also provides a mounting for an arm 22 positioned at the inbow side of the curved terminus or portion I'I.

This arm 22 is U-shaped in cross section and has at its inner end portion the ears 23 arranged at opposite sides of the curved terminus or portion [1 and through which the bolt 2I is directed. The side flanges c of this arm 22 have their inner extremities arranged at opposite sides of the portion I'I. Pivotally connected, as at 24, with the outer end portions of these flanges c are the parallel arms 25 which are of a length to extend beyond the outer extremity of the curved terminus or portion ll of the member M. The outer extremities of these arms 25 are tied or connected by a shank 26 and said outer extremities are maintained in desired spaced relation by the spacer sleeve 21 through which the shank 26 is directed. This shank 26, as herein disclosed, is maintained in position by having its opposite extremities upset.

The arms 25 constitute an operating lever L for the hook member H.

The arms 25 have rotatably supported therebetween the rollers 28 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the curved portions I1 and I9 of the hook members M and H and the curvature of the portionor terminus I! is concentric to the pivotal connection of the arms 25 of the lever L with thearm 22.

Upon inward swinging movement of the lever L contact of the outer roller 28 with the outer edge face of the curved terminus or portion I9 of the hook member H will cause the outer end portion ofthe hook member H to move in a direction away from the outer end portion of the hook member M. Upon swinging movement of the lever L in the opposite direction theinner roller 28' will contact with the inner or inbow curved edge face of the portion 0! terminus I9 and move the outer extremity of the hook member H toward and into contact with the outer end portion of the hook member M.

The first movement of the lever L is to be accomplished by the well known use of a strap attached to the outer end portion of the lever L and coming up the arm of the user and across the shoulders in a manner whereby upon shrugging of a shoulder forward will effect desired inward swinging movement of the lever L. The reverse or outward swinging movement of the lever L, as herein disclosed, is accomplished through the medium of the retractile coil springs 29. These springs 29 are arranged side by side and are positioned between the arms 25 of the lever L and the flanges c of the arm 22. Each of these springs 29 has its outer end portion connected to a pin 30 carried by and bridging the space between the arms 25 of the lever L and with its opposite end portion anchored to a pin 3| carried by and bridging the space between the flanges c of the arm 22 at the outer end thereof. The intermediate portion of this spring 29 passes over a grooved pulley rotatably mounted upon the bolt 24.

The outer end of the curved terminus or portion I"! of the hook member M is continued by an elongated arm 32 and the curved terminus or portion I9 of the hook member H is also continued byan elongated arm 33. The arms 32 and 33 are longitudinally curved with such curved portions laterally and reversely curved to provide opposed jaw portions 35 at their inner extremities and between which is adapted to be clamped the handle of a hammer or other implement or tool.

The arms 32 and 33 are coextensive in length and their outer end portions are continued by the substantially perpendicularly disposed fingers 36, the opposed faces of which are flat and preferalbly serrated or otherwise roughened. As disclosed in the accompanyingdrawing, these fingers 36 are arranged longitudinally on a slight curvature. The opposed faces of the fingers 36 are adapted to have direct contact and which contact is normally maintained under the action of the springs 29 hereinbefore referred to. It is believed to be apparent that the artificial hand as herein disclosed can be employed to advantage in gras'ping'various kinds of articles within a reasonable range and that the rotatable adjustment for the clamping structure C allows the hook members M and H to be moved to such positions to best suit the needs of the user.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an artificialhand constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principlesand spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1. An artificial hand comprising a supporting member and a clamp str'ucture, said supporting member comprising a collar, a plate closing an end of the collar and having-a central opening, a sleeve carried by the plate-and extending inwardly of the collar, the bore of the sleeve being in continuation of the opening in the plate, a second plate within the collar for movement toward or from the free end of the sleeve, yielding means for constantly urging the second plate toward the inner end of the sleeve, said inner end of the sleeve being provided therearound with spaced recesses, a wall of the bore of the sleeve being provided therealong with a key slot continued through the first plate, a shaft comprised in the clamp structure insentable through the opening in the first plate and the bore of the sleeve, said shaft being of a length to extend beyond the inner end of the sleeve of contact with the second plate, and a laterally disposed lug carried by the inserted end portion of the shaft to selectively engage within one of the recesses to lock the shaft against rotation with respect to the first plate, the contact of the second plate with the inserted end of the shaft maintaining the lug within the recess, said shaft being of a length to allow the same to be moved against the action of the second plate a distance sufficient to free the lug from the recess to permit rotation of the shaft, the lug of the shaft passing through the slot upon insertion of the shaft or upon removal of the shaft.

2. An artificial hand comprising a supporting member, a clamp structure including a shaft, means for rotatably mounting said shaft upon the supporting member, releasable means for holding the shaft against rotation, an outstanding hook member rigid With the shaft, the inner part of said hook member being formed to provide an outwardly curved terminus, said curved terminus having a slot therethrou'gh, a second hook member having its inner part formed to provide a curved terminus, means for pivotally connecting the outer extremity of the curved terminus of the second hook member with the inner extremity of the curved terminus of the first hook member, the outer portion of the curved terminus of the second member extending through the slot of the curved terminus of the first hook member, an arm pivoted to the inner extremity of the curved terminus of the first hook member for swinging movement with respect to both hook members, a lever pivotally connected with the outer end portion of said arm, said lever comprising substantially parallel arms positioned at opposite sides of the curved termini of the hook members, members carried by and bridging the space between the arms of the lever, one of said members having contact with the inner edge face of the curved terminus of the second hook member and the second member contacting with the outer edge face of such curved terminus, spring means for swinging the lever in a direction to move the second hook member toward the first hook member and to normally maintain the same in clamping contact, movement of the lever in the opposite direction swinging the second hook member away from the first hook member, the arm being substantially U- shaped in cross section providing side flanges,

' arm.

WILLIAM A. MGELROY. 

